The world morphed. Kaiser found himself inside a plane. Gears whirred, steam hissed from the walls, and the sky outside was thick with pollution.
In the pilot’s seat sat the Xavier who had connected Kaiser to this memory—Iselda Xavier, widely known as Iselda the Evil. A figure from Bionfi history, a cautionary tale in Xavier culture—everything an Ascendant should never become.
Her expression was focused. Next to her, a man with cyan hair sat, too calm for the situation’s urgency. His appearance was different, unfamiliar—a Faenin, Kaiser realized. A halo hovered crookedly above his head. His golden ears, pointed and glowing faintly, flared out with an iridescent aura, and dark blue markings snaked across his skin.
Across from him, a woman with black hair streaked with purple sat rigid, her fingers tapping against her knee. Her features were unmistakably tied to Sapphire’s ancestry.
“They’re getting closer,” Iselda muttered, her hands tightening on the controls. “We need to set up the barrier before they arrive.”
Kaiser watched from the back, feeling the pressure building. Beside him, Shizuka stood silently, her eyes scanning the scene as the memory played out in front of them.
“They don’t get it,” Iselda continued with frustration. “They think I’m destroying everything.”
“People fear what they don’t understand,” the Faenin said, his voice steady and calm. “But they’ll understand, in time.”
The Enfa woman shifted. “This is reckless,” she muttered, the discomfort bleeding through. “Giving both sides this much power… it’s just going to fuel the war.”
Iselda didn’t respond, her focus still locked on the controls as the plane descended toward the Sanguine Forest below. The faint glow of the Sanguine Tree pulsed in the distance, its massive roots spreading through the earth like veins of red light.
Shizuka leaned in toward Kaiser, her voice soft but urgent. “It is said that a long time ago, Iselda planned to absorb the full power of the Bionfi divine relic—the Sanguine Tree—for herself to win the generational war against the Necronfi clan.” She stopped, her eyes narrowing as she gestured to the Enfa woman. “But something doesn’t make sense… that’s Melpomene the Savior: Gearshift Era’s Necronfi Ascendant.”
Kaiser furrowed his brow. “They are known to be archnemesis… why are they working together?”
The plane descended sharply as they approached the heart of the Sanguine Forest. Iselda brought the plane down, the landing rough but controlled on the uneven forest floor. The moment the engines whirred to a stop, she was on her feet.
“There’s no time to waste. I’ll set up the barrier,” she said, grabbing a satchel filled with intricate devices—mechanisms humming with infused Trionfi. Without another word, she vanished into the dense trees.
The Faenin and Melpomene exchanged a glance. “We’ll start the preparations,” The Faenin said, his eyes lingering on where Iselda had disappeared.
“Be careful, Raelyn,” Melpomene added softly.
They headed off toward the base of the Sanguine Tree, leaving Kaiser and Shizuka standing by the plane.
Kaiser hesitated. “Should we follow them?”
Shizuka shook her head. “Iselda’s actions might be more revealing. Let’s see what she’s up to.”
Kaiser nodded and took off after Iselda. The forest was infused with the organic scent of Bionfi.
Soon, he found Iselda kneeling beside a massive tree, attaching one of the devices to its trunk. Gears spun, and the mechanism came alive with a hum.
“Don’t fail me now,” she mumbled at the device.
Kaiser’s vision blurred—his body suddenly felt heavier than it should. The exhaustion from the sleepless night finally caught up with him as his mind faltered. He blinked hard, trying to focus on Iselda as she set up the device, but something was off.
The scent of the forest, the hum of the Triotech mechanisms—it all became distant.
Before he could make sense of it, the world around him shattered. The connection to the Moon Tears Tea snapped. Shizuka gasped beside him, her figure fading from view as she reached out to him.
“Kaiser!” she called, her voice growing faint, echoing through the forest. But it was too late.
He wasn’t in the present anymore.
Kaiser found himself inside Iselda’s body, disoriented—his consciousness fused with hers. He could feel her hands on the devices, the cold metal under her fingertips, the tightness in her chest. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t react outwardly.
Inside, though, her mind was racing. Who’s there? she asked.
Kaiser tried to respond, but he was unsure of how it worked. Can you hear me?
Who are you? Her mental voice was sharp.
Kaiser stayed silent, unsure if responding further would cause some sort of divergence in the timeline.
Hey, are you still there? She asked, uncertain.
As Iselda moved, he felt more—her sadness in her every action. He felt her love for both Melpomene and Raelyn. But more than anything, he felt her fear. She was trying to finish something she didn’t entirely believe in anymore.
Kaiser tried, but he couldn’t just keep quiet—he needed answers. I’m Kaiser. The seventh Bionfi Ascendant. The Blood Phoenix.
Iselda stilled, her hands hovering over the device as her mind went quiet. He could feel her processing his words, trying to make sense of them. Then, a deeper understanding settled over her.
The Blood Phoenix… Her thoughts were slower now. That’s the name I… she scoffed. So, it worked. You’re… real.
What worked? Kaiser asked.
Iselda’s breath hitched slightly, the enormity of the revelation hitting her. She let out a shaky laugh, the kind that bordered on relief and madness. If you’re here now, then… we really did it. I can’t believe it.
Iselda, I’m here seeking answers. Kaiser said.
You’re witnessing the end, she thought. The end of everything. And the beginning of something new.
Kaiser began growing impatient. Please be more specific.
Don’t worry, partner, She smiled. Stay here for a little longer, and watch us save the future.
Before Kaiser could respond, Melpomene’s voice broke through the moment.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
Iselda turned, her laughter fading, but her mind was still buzzing. “Nothing, my love. It’s all going according to plan.”
Iselda moved swiftly. The forest seemed to yield to her, branches bending away as she passed. Still entwined within her consciousness, Kaiser felt every movement—the flex of her muscles, the steady rhythm of her breath.
So, Kaiser, she thought casually. Do they still tell stories about me in your time?
A few. But I get the feeling they might not be entirely accurate.
She huffed. History has a way of twisting things. People see what they want to see.
True enough, he agreed. They call you Iselda the Evil.
She let out a soft chuckle. Dramatic. I suppose ‘Iselda the Moderately Unpleasant’ didn’t have the same ring to it.
Kaiser couldn’t help but smile internally. You don’t seem particularly evil to me.
Glad to hear it. She hopped over a fallen log. But give it time.
Why do you say that?
Because tough choices rarely make you popular, she replied. And I’ve made plenty.
She stopped to kneel and tighten her laces. But tell me about your time. Is it everything we hoped for?
Kaiser considered his response. It’s… complicated. Some things are better, some worse.
Figures. Change is never as clean or as quick as we’d like.
The distant rumble of engines echoed through the air as dark shapes loomed on the horizon—airships moving faster than Kaiser expected.
Iselda glanced over her shoulder, her smirk barely faltering. “Impeccable timing!” She raised her hand and snapped her fingers. A massive, translucent barrier formed in a flash, extending like a dome over the entire Sanguine Forest.
Kaiser’s attention snapped to the airships. The first collided with the barrier—metal screeching against Trionfi-infused energy—before exploding in flames and smoke. The shockwave rattled the trees. Another ship crashed soon after, followed by another, each one meeting the same fiery end against Iselda’s shield.
She watched calmly as the ships disintegrated, her hand still extended, fingers twitching slightly as if adjusting the barrier’s strength.
“Nobody will bother us now,” she said, her voice carrying satisfaction.
Raelyn appeared at her side with admiration in his eyes. “Brilliant as ever!” he said.
You two seem close, Kaiser noted.
He’s… persistent, she replied with a warmth in her tone. Keeps me rooted when I get lost in the skies.
And Melpomene?
Iselda smiled softly. She challenges me. Doesn’t let me get away with anything.
Sounds like a good balance for a Dirvah.
Most of the time. She paused.
Iselda walked to the clearing facing the Sanguine Tree, where the ritual circle awaited. Kaiser felt her resolve, the determination that pushed her forward even as doubts lingered in her mind.
Raelyn and Melpomene were already there, arranging devices and drawing intricate symbols on the ground.
“You’re placing that sigil incorrectly,” Melpomene noted with irritation as she glanced at Raelyn.
He looked up with a hint of surprise on his face. “I’m following the diagram you provided.”
She sighed, pushing a strand of purple-streaked hair behind her ear. “No, you’re not. The lines should converge here, not there.” She stepped closer, pointing decisively at the markings.
Raelyn scoffed. “The difference is negligible. It won’t affect the outcome.”
“Negligible?” Melpomene’s eyes narrowed. “A misaligned sigil could destabilize the entire ritual. We can’t afford mistakes.”
He straightened, meeting her gaze head-on. “I’ve studied these rituals. I know what I’m doing.”
“Clearly, you don’t,” she shot back. “This isn’t just theory, Raelyn.”
Iselda approached them, her expression neutral but her presence drew their attention. “Is everything alright?”
“Fine,” Raelyn replied quickly.
Melpomene folded her arms, shaking her head.
Iselda glanced between them. “We don’t have time for this again.”
Kaiser could feel her patience thinning—the strain of holding them together.
“Mel, show me how you want it,” Iselda said calmly.
Melpomene hesitated, her gaze lingering on Raelyn before she knelt to adjust the sigil. “It needs to align with Bioterra’s trajectory,” she explained, her fingers tracing the corrected lines. “Otherwise, the Bionfi flow will be uneven.”
Raelyn watched her with frustration and maybe regret. “You could have just explained that instead of assuming I was stupid.”
She glanced up at him, her eyes softer now but still guarded. “Maybe if you’d listen instead of insisting you’re always right.”
He opened his mouth to reply but then closed it, exhaling sharply. “Let’s just get it done.”
Iselda placed a hand on Melpomene’s shoulder. “Our nations may be at war,” she said. “But we aren’t. Let’s focus on that.”
Melpomene nodded, rising to her feet. “Agreed.”
Raelyn ran a hand through his cyan hair, looking momentarily chastened. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
They’re like Thermo and Cryo, Kaiser mused internally.
Always have been, Iselda replied in her thoughts. It’s part of what makes us work—and what makes it hard.
Don’t you feel stuck in the middle? he asked.
Constantly. But I’d rather have them as they are than not at all.
Raelyn stepped forward, his cyan eyes reflecting the glow of the sigils around them. “We grew up across the world, and yet we’ve all witnessed the same horrors,” he began, his voice steady yet intense. “Terrarium is caught in an endless cycle of war and massacre. Families, Clans, and nations annihilating each other—generations lost to greed, hate, and revenge.”
Kaiser felt Iselda’s attention sharpen as Raelyn continued, “But it doesn’t have to be this way. The Xaviers and the Caspecorgia have the power to end it all. With this construct from the Sanguine Tree, we can usher in a Final Era of Ascendants. A Construct that will bring balance to our world or—if necessary—end the conflict decisively.”
Melpomene crossed her arms. “Again, you’re both suggesting we wield unknown powers,” she said. “Giving the Xaviers more strength will just escalate the violence.”
Raelyn met her eyes. “It’s a risk, I know. But what alternative do we have?”
She shook her head. “Power isn’t a solution, Raelyn. It’s a catalyst. We’ve seen it before.”
“Trionfi, the world—the universe… it has always worked on balance. This is a final attempt to create something that can stabilize the chaos,” he said.
Iselda remained silent, her gaze fixed ahead but her mind turbulent. Kaiser felt the weight of Raelyn’s words, the sting of Melpomene’s doubts, and her own unspoken fears.
“Even if we succeed,” Melpomene pressed, “we don’t know what this constructs will become. We could be unleashing a force beyond our control. Perhaps usher an era of Ascendants closer to gods rather than people.”
“That’s a possibility,” Raelyn admitted. “But doing nothing guarantees more bloodshed. At least this way, we have a chance to change the course of history. To break free from this hopeless fate and rewrite destiny.”
A tense silence settled over them. The symbols around them pulsed faintly, awaiting their decision.
Iselda finally spoke up with a measured voice. “We’ve all sacrificed to be here. We must decide—do we move forward together or let fear hold us back?”
Melpomene glanced at her. “I just want to make sure we’re not making a mistake,” she murmured.
Raelyn stepped closer to Melpomene. “Trust in what we’ve built together. Trust in the children of our children and everyone under. This opportunity is not to break the cycle for us but for them.”
Melpomene searched his eyes, then Iselda’s, before letting out a resigned sigh. “Alright. Let’s be cautious then.”
“Agreed,” Raelyn said with a nod.
Iselda took a deep breath, her resolve solidifying. “Let’s begin.”
They moved into position around the ritual circle and machinery. Kaiser could feel the energy building. As they began to chant, the symbols on the ground lit up.
Raelyn took a deep breath. He turned to Iselda. “Well,” he said with a faint smile, “I could have never asked for a funner adventure.”
Iselda’s heart clenched. Kaiser felt it too—the tightness in her chest, the swirl of love and sorrow. “You don’t have to do this,” she whispered, her voice barely audible as the words slipped out her mouth.
He reached out, gently brushing a strand of her crimson hair. “We both know I do.” Leaning in, he pressed his lips to hers—a soft, lingering kiss.
Pulling back, Raelyn turned to Melpomene. She stood a few paces away, her arms wrapped around herself as if to hold everything together. “Take care of her,” he said softly.
Melpomene’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You know I will.” She stepped forward, allowing him to envelop her in a warm hug. “You’re infuriating,” she murmured against his shoulder.
He chuckled lightly. “The feeling is mutual,” he teased.
As he released her, Raelyn took a moment. “Trust in them,” he said firmly. “It’s all up to the future Ascendants.”
Iselda nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.
He gave them one last smile before turning toward the Sanguine Tree. The crimson roots seemed to sense his approach, beginning to stir and stretch toward him.
Kaiser recognized the spell Raelyn was chanting—a way to transfer your entire life energy to other people, but in this case, he was doing so to the Sanguine Tree.
Just before stepping into the roots’ embrace, Raelyn glanced back at Iselda. “One last favor,” he called out.
“Anything,” she replied instantly.
“There’s a dahlia that grows near the eastern cliffs,” he said. “Take one and leave it by Yggdrasil in Faelyn. Our daughter… she’ll be born with it.”
Kaiser felt a jolt of surprise ripple through Iselda. “Our daughter?” she echoed.
He nodded. “It will be a while until she is born, but I want her to know that her parents will always be cheering for her.”
Tears welled up in Iselda’s eyes, but she blinked them away. “I promise.”
With that, Raelyn faced the Sanguine Tree. The roots coiled around him, gentle yet unyielding. A soft glow enveloped his body as the tree began to absorb his essence. He closed his eyes with a serene expression.
“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice echoing faintly. “Both of you. For everything.”
Melpomene instantly burst out into tears. The sound felt like daggers being plunged into Iselda’s heart.
As his form began to dissolve into shimmering light, he looked utterly peaceful. The glow intensified, and slowly, he became one with the tree.
Kaiser felt the overwhelming rush of emotions flood through Iselda—grief, love, hope, and an indescribable pain that seemed to pierce straight through the soul. Experiencing it with her, he was struck by the magnitude of Raelyn’s sacrifice.
The reality of watching someone willingly give up everything for a cause brought tears to his eyes—synchronized with Iselda’s. Iselda’s pain of knowing that their child would grow up alone was almost too much to bear. Wait… alone? Kaiser thought. Iselda?… what are you planning?
But she didn’t answer to him.
Melpomene gathered herself, then moved closer, her hand finding Iselda’s. “He… He’s the bravest person I’ve ever met,” she said softly.
Iselda squeezed her hand, drawing strength from the connection.
The glow of the Sanguine Tree intensified. The air was filled with energy as the beginnings of something began to form from the core of the Sanguine Tree. A heartbeat spread across the entire Sanguine Forest, and from Raelyn’s ethereal ashes, a crimson light began taking the shape of a majestic bird. The Blood Phoenix slowly took form.
Iselda watched silently, her gaze fixed on the swirling essence where Raelyn had stood moments before.
Melpomene stepped forward, her eyes wide with awe and dread. “It’s actually happening,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the Phoenix’s heartbeat.
Iselda took a slow breath. “Not quite,” she said softly.
Melpomene turned to her with confusion. “What do you mean?”
